A
nice race was announced. The driver championship was already finished; Juan
Manuel Fangio won the pilots title with his Maserati
250F
. Its career however seemed finished, he also came in
Casablanca
.

Fangio
:The poster of the grand prix :

This
race was nevertheless important for all
Casablanca
inhabitants; it was the first time that Formula 1 came to
Casablanca
.
On all walls of the city one could see the poster which announced the Grand Prix
(right above).

Qualifying
session :

Ferrari
especially engaged new cars for preparing the 1958 championship. Best than the
Ferrari-Lancia D50, Ferrari 226 Dino - based on formulas 2 of the same mark -
took part in the race. Ferrari also tested the new fuels which will be used the
following season: AvGas, instead of alcohol. The FIA, pretended this use because
it was necessary “to use the commercial fuels to be able to promote Formula 1
communication in the world of individual cars”. Else, other marks kept their
basic cars; Maserati with its “invincible”
250F
and Vanwall with VW, symbol of the mark.

During the first qualifying session, Moss, on Vanwall, signed best times. But
the following day, he felt sick, especially because of the Moroccan atmosphere.
Only his two companions could mark the presence of Vanwall team: Tony Brooks and
Stuart Lewis-Evans. It will be done with two best times in first raw with Jean
Behra on his Maserati.
A surprising Collins and Fangio were qualified on the second raw.
Behind, one can see some official Maserati and other Cooper and private
Maserati.

22
Brooks
Vanwall
2'23.3"

8
Behra
Maserati
2'23.5"

24
Lewis-Evans
Vanwall
2'26.2"

2
Collins
Ferrari
2'27.2"

6
Fangio
Maserati
2'27.3"

4
Hawthorn
Ferrari
2'29.0"

10
Schell
Maserati
2´29.1"

26
Trintignant
BRM
2'29.1"

18
Brabham
Cooper
2'29.4"

28
Flockhart
BRM
2´30.1"

14
Godia-Sales
Maserati
2'32.0"

16
Salvadori
Cooper
2'32.8"

12
Scarlatti
Maserati
2'36.1"

30
Lucas
Maserati
2'38.1"

Jean Behra in the pits, whose will start in
second position :

Organization

The
race was organized by the Royal Moroccan Car Club, this club was chaired by
Mohammed Elzizi, and also by Raymond Roche (known as “Toto” Roche), which
had already a long “prize list”, because he was a key interlocutor in French
Grand Prix. “Toto” Roche will give the start of the 1957 Grand Prix, a
historical moment, because it’s the first time in the history of
Morocco
.
The king, Mohammed V, with his son; Hassan II inaugurated the circuit! It’s a
national event.The Grand Prix will have 55 laps, in fact
261 miles
.

The inauguration of the circuit by the Mohammed
V king :

Maserati was a major element
for this race; on the 16 engaged cars, 7 were Maserati cars!

The start of the cars of Italie, at
Maserati's factory in Bologne :

The Maserati team, it will take part in the grand prix
of Morocco :

Le départ :

The
start occurred on October 27, 1957, with 50.000 local spectators.

The drivers with their cars on the start grid :

The
start was given by the race organizer, in fact Raymond Roche.

The start with "Toto" Roche :

Le start in first line :

The
race

And
the race started ! In a thunder crash, 14 cars are “flat out” in the
straight line of the Corniche of Casablanca before diving in the first turn;
which joins the boulevard Panoramique. A steep turn, which had trapped more than
one during qualifying.
And, exiting this turn, it’s the favorite: French Jean Behra on Maserati which
leads the race.
7 laps later, one sees official in the stands leaving the black flag with a
panel where a figure appears! That is to say the car will be displayed on the
panel is disqualified! And one sees number 6, Fangio! But...He
does not have any problem on its car and he was not dangerous on the track!
What’s happening? Fangio, as an honest man, is parked in the stands and one
sees Raymond Roche, who left his timing chair, discussing with the official who
had misled the figures! It’s Jack Brabham which should have been eliminated!
It has an oil leakage on its car! And it is number 18, and not 8!

The
race continues and many cars are out: on 8th lap Mike Hawthorn stops,
followed by Tony Brooks on Vanwall on 12th lap, Roy Salvadori on T43
Cooper-Climax on 14th lap and Peter Collins on the second Ferrari on
16th lap.Later, one will
see the British Ron Flockart on BRM was out on 25th lap and finally,
Jean Lucas on a private Maserati on 50th lap.